A Guide to Migraine Headache Medicine

Migraine is a painful type of headache causing throbbing or pulsing on one side of the head. Women are three times more likely to suffer from migraine as compared to men. There are many factors that can trigger migraine headache including exposure to light, stress, anxiety, lack of sleep or food and hormonal changes. Some of the most common symptoms of migraine include throbbing head pain, moderate to severe pain on any one side of the head, pain interfering with your daily activities, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea with or without vomiting and pain that worsens with physical activity. If left untreated, the pain can last up to 72 hours. Migraine headache in children is mainly caused due to viral infection, tension or brain tumor.

Not all migraines are same, and most people suffer from common migraine, which is migraine without auras. However, some people have aura for about 20-30 minutes before starting of the headache. When experiencing the auras, you may see the sparkling flashes of light, blind spots in your vision, dazzling zigzag line and pins, needles or tingling sensation in one leg or arm.

Migraine Headache Medicine

There are many specifically designed drugs available in the market to treat migraines. There are some medicines that are commonly used to treat other conditions, but are quite effective in treating the migraine as well. The migraine headache medicine can be mainly classified in two categories namely pain-relieving medications and preventive medications. Pain-relieving is also called as abortive or acute treatment, and these medications are taken during the attack to stop the symptoms that have already started. Preventive medications are the drugs taken regularly, usually on daily basis to reduce the frequency and severity of migraines.

Migraine headache medicines and treatment must be chosen as per the severity and frequency of the headaches, degree of disability caused by the pain and other medical conditions. If you have suffered more than two debilitating attacks within a month, and pain-relieving medications are not helping much, you can also go for preventive therapy.

Some of the most common migraine headache medicines are Ergots, Triptans, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-nausea medications, Opiates and Butalbital combinations. Use of preventive migraine headache medicines is based on its side effect and patient’s medical condition. If the patient is not having asthma, Propranolol is prescribed first in low doses, and if need arises, the dosage is increased gradually. Preventive migraine headache medicines need to be taken daily, and must be gradually stopped to avoid the headaches. In some cases, non-medication in addition to behavioral therapies and life-style changes can also be quite effective in treating or preventing migraine headaches.